Holland Family

Happy Easter~!!

2010-04-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

We thouroughly enjoyed our beautiful baby boy on his first Easter and we are so thankful that our Lord and savior died and rose again so that we may have eternal life with him. I've never been more thankful. Happy Easter. Love, T.E.&K.

First teeny tiny cold

2010-03-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Kylar started with his first little cold. It really wasn't anything bad- just a tiny bit of coughing and runny nose- way worse for me than for him LOL. But the good news is that my sweet man weighed 3 lbs 12 oz :D yayy!!! Way to grow bubba!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

2010-03-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

4 month appt.

2010-03-03T14:10:00.000-08:00

Well.. my big boy had his 4 month appt. yesterday. He weighed 12 lbs 2 oz and was 25 inches long. He's still in the 7th percentile for weight but around the 50th for height. Considering he is playing a bit of catch up from his 4lb birth weight, he's doing great! The dr. was not concerned about his size and told us to continue the same regiment we've been on... 6oz of EBM and formula every 3 hours and we are doing rice cereal 3 times per day now. We get to experiment with "real" foods in a month :) Here's a quick pic of my handsome stud muffin!!!!

Happy 4 months precious baby boy!

2010-02-27T09:40:00.000-08:00

Although he doesn't get an actual 4 month bday ;) *because Feb is a short month* he is right about 4 months! He has his 4 month check up on Tuesday and we're very excited to see what he weighs now! He's definitely plumping out and making new discoveries every day! He is now rolling over, giggling out loud, talking non stop and he started eating rice cereal (which he loves!)He is talking up a storm and is constantly smiling! He has really started to become SO much fun. He's such a happy and loving boy. He is still eating about 5-6 oz. of expressed breast milk mixed with high calorie formula about every three hours. He has bath time at 9 and is usually in bed by 10 and sleeps until about 7 or 8 am. He is SUCH a sweetie and the absolute light and joy of my life! Thank you Lord for this wonderful blessing! It's my priveledge to be his momma!

Nothing better than baby giggles

2010-02-25T05:50:00.000-08:00

Having a bad day? Just look at this sweet face!

My BIG boy!.

2010-02-25T05:44:00.000-08:00

Time is absolutely flying. Kylar is talking and laughing so much these days! He's eating good and loving his cereal! He has also started rolling over and sleeping in his big boy bed ;)

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-14T13:22:00.000-08:00

Me and my little Valentine have enjoyed a wonderful day together and me and my big Valentine are hitting the slopes tomorrow morning for our V-Day present to one another- pictures to follow! I hope everyone had a wonderful day!

Pictures of the day

2010-02-06T16:05:00.000-08:00

Happy 3 months baby boy!!

2010-02-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

WHAT A JOY HE IS!!! I honestly never ever could have imagined the absolute love and joy my heart could feel until having this sweet baby. He is just growing before my very eyes. I enjoy every moment with him. These days he is full of coos, giggles and smiles. He got a new froggy toy that hangs from his carseat and papasan chair that he absolutely LOVES. I swear I could sit and watch this boy giggle at that toy ALL day! It is so sweet! He is very responsive to our voices now and will give us a huge grin when we talk to him. He is such a wiggle worm and bounces and squirms all day! We are pretty well settled on a routine now. He gets up around 5am to eat his first bottle and usually naps for a bit longer and gets up again around 8. He usually stays awake a good while after his 8 am feeding and cat naps on and off all day. He eats around 4-5 oz every three hours- usually closer to 4. He weighs somewhere close to 11 lbs! We usually give him his bath at 9pm every night, lotion him up, swaddle then give him his last bottle of the evening before he goes down for the night. we resume and repeat the next morning at 5 am!
I absolutely love being his mommy and I am so grateful and so blessed for the time we share together.

I am still exclusively pumping and that is going well. He is also supplemented with high calorie formula added to each bottle. We hope to get him off of that as soon as he's ready but the dr's want to see him chunk up a bit first. We are looking forward to practicing with rice cereal soon! I'll be sure to post pictures! He love love loves bath time :) I can't wait until he can sit up and really enjoy it. He has excellent next control despite his lack of interest in tummy time. He could stand and bounce on my lap for hours and gets mad at me when we stop! I think I may introduce a jumperoo or exersaucer next month :) He is such a happy boy and Travis and I are head over heels in love with him (and eachother ;) )

On his 3 month birthday we enjoyed about 8 or so inches of snow. Momma and Daddy LOVED it, but Ky wasn't a huge fan ;) Here are some pics!

2 month appt.

2010-01-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

Kylar had his 2 month appt. last week (even though he's closer to 3 months!). Our little chunk now weighs 9 lbs 12 oz and is 23 inches long. He had to get 2 shots :( But he did great! We gave him a little Tylenol after and my poor baby slept the rest of the night (even through our noisy dinner at Abuelos!) I think it bothered me more than it did him! He's doing great and growing like a weed! He finally eats better and is officially sleeping through the night! What a sweetie ;) I am back to work (only part time) so his sleeping patterns have definitely helped make it a smoother transition. He is full of all sorts of coos and giggles. We love to sit and watch him! He loves to play and be sung to and he loves his bouncy seat! He thinks he is grown and could stand on our laps and bounce for hours! We are taking tons of picures and lots of video because he is growing before our eyes! We're totally in love with our little guy :)

Our last few months, in pictures ;)

2010-01-11T12:41:00.009-08:00

Such a big boy! 2 months old!!Opening my first Christmas gift!

So sleepy!

Such a HAPPY boy!

Milk Mouth!

Christmas!

Nakey boy!

First Thanksgiving!

I'm new here!

Daddy's Bday Party

A few weeks old!

First real bath!

FINALLLLLY HOME!

First visit to the Pedi

First "bath" in the sink!

Hospital Pics

2010-01-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

Finally able to visit!

Day 3 of life ;)

Going home, for the 2nd time! and for GOOD!

Daddy and Ky napping!

So happy to finally get to hold him in my arms!

Happy 25th Trav!!

My poor boy :(

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!

Mimi stopping by for a visit

Daddy feeding Ky in the nursery

My very first trip out of the room....

Our home for 2 weeks!

Nana, GG, Bob and PawPaw eating him up!

Okay, we're home.. Now what?!?!?!

Our 10 day post birth stay

2010-01-11T11:53:00.001-08:00

After Kylar was born we were transferred to a recovery room where we spent Saturday Sunday and Monday. He was doing great at this point, maintaining his temp and nursing well. My blood pressure was still elevated but getting better. On Monday, we were both released.

Needless to say, Monday was a horrible night. I was in quite a bit of pain and the baby was getting cold and not eating. We were due back Tuesday for another set of bilirubin labs. We took little Kylar in to have his foot pricked and then we left. The dr. called us about an hr later and said that his levels were really high and his temperature wasn't even registering. He was starting to get very sick from the jaundice. He would have to be readmitted overnight and kept under the lights.

We were so sad but Sentara was nice enough to give us a courtesy room that night. His levels went down the next day and they intended to release him. As we were waiting for release papers, I started to feel very very ill. I hollered for the nurse who came in and took my blood pressure. I had terrible chest pains and felt like I was going to pass out. She check my BP and it was 175/105- dangerously high.

They readmitted me right away and ran EKG's, got me on some BP medicine and watched me over the next several days. That same night, Kylar's eating got worse and his temperature was getting lower and lower. He was sent back to the nursery yet again. They tried feeding him all night but he was just too weak to suck. They eventually decided to incubate him to keep him warm and put the tubes in to feed him so he could have a break. I cried all I ever wanted to. It was so pitiful to have my little guy taken from me and placed in that box with tubes in his face, but I knew it was best for him. As sick as I was, I was in no condition to care for him as he needed anyhow.

Over the next several days, the nurses worked with feeding him and he was eventually able to have the tube removed. One the 8th day they let him in the open crib for a trial and he did great. He maintained his temperature and gained some weight so we were able to leave on the 10th day. He was back up to his birth weight of 4lbs 9 oz. While we were there my blood pressure eventually started to come down but it would be another 7 weeks before it would normalize.

While we were in the hospital Travis and I really leaned on one another. I don't think we've ever been so close. The mutual fear, love and excitement we felt as co-parents was something we were realy able to bond over. We really depended on one another to get through this difficult time. We also celebrated the 25th birthday of the best dad I know. We enjoyed lots of visitors from Nana, Mimi, GG, Paw Paw, Uncle Rick and Pastor Matt and Nancy. We can't thank you all enough for your continued love and support. We would have never been able to get through it without all of your prayers and encouragement!

Also a special thank you to Sentara for allowing us to stay while Kylar was in there. He had an awesome group of nurses (as did I) who really made it a pleasant stay. God truly blessed us and we are eternally grateful.

such a slacker.. but HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2010-01-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a very merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year. I promise to be a better blogger.... soon ;)

The OR/birth experience

2009-12-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Needless to say- When I woke up that morning for what I thought would be a routine visit and ultrasound, I could have never imagined the events that would transpire over the next 24 hours! My mom had spent the night (she was spending a lot of time with me anyway as I was on bed rest) but she planned on going to the growth scan with us that day to see if the baby had grown. Travis had worked the night before so as soon as he got home at 9:30 am and changed clothes, we left for the appt. After the appt. we headed back to the women's center for evaluation.

When I got to the room they hooked me up to all the monitors, they came in to draw labs and it was a waiting game, hoping my pressures would go down. Travis, my mom and I really didn't think too much of this as we'd done this whole ordeal about five times in that same week. Every time the machine took my blood pressure I could see that it wasn't going down so we were getting a little worried but trying to relax. I called my mother in law to let her know what was going on but assured her that she should stay at work because everything would be fine ;)

As I laid in the bed, I could feel the contractions getting more intense but I still wasn't in pain. Poor Travis was laying on the "window seat" praying we could go home soon because he'd been up all night! My mom was pacing the floors and obsessively checking the monitor readings! A few minutes later, my nurse came in. It was actually the same nurse who we'd taken the child birth classes with! She asked me if I was feeling the contractions and I said yes. She told me they were getting stronger and closer together (I already knew this ;) ) She also told me that they were starting an IV and admitting me. I knew that something was going on because this wasn't a standard procedure.

A few minutes later, my doctor arrives and says, "I think we're going to go ahead with the c-section TODAY.. Your pressures are getting worse and now you're contracting". Wait a minute... WHAT!!!!! Travis popped up off of the window seat and wiped his eyes, I picked my jaw up off of the hospital bed and my mom's pacing turned to panic! When she left we all started to freak a little but I was surprisingly much calmer than I'd imagined I would be. We started to call and text our family members and within a few minutes my dr. was back to say that we'd be going in the next thirty minutes.

Within five minutes anesthesia was in to talk to ask me questions and the nurse started handing out our OR garb. Travis put on his dr. suit, I put on my hat and within 15 minutes they were back to get me. No one evenhad time to make it to the hospital before I was taken back. The walk to the OR felt like the longest walk of my life. I was pretty much in shock so I really didn't have time to panic. I kissed Travis and my mom goodbye and off I went.

The OR was absolutely freezing. When I got in there I sat up on a table and had to lean over in the arms of the OR tech while the anesthesiologist prepped my back for the spinal. I was shaking uncontrollably. I think part was nerves and part was the ice cold bed. They put warm blankets on me and the dr. started the spinal. It really was painless and far easier than I thought it would be. As soon as it was in I immediately laid back on the table. The nurse inserted the catheter and they started cleaning my stomach. It was really weird to be naked on this table in front of all of these people! The nurses put up the screen so I wouldn't be able to see anything and eventually they let Travis back in. I remember asking for him.. I was so afraid they would start without him! He finally came back and he looked so scared for me! He held my hand and the dr. started testing me to make sure I was completely numb. Once she confirmed, they started the surgery.

I really couldn't feel the "pressure" that everyone talks about. I could definitely feel pulling and tugging which was kind of gross but not much pressure. I had tons of pain in my chest which they said was from them pressing on my uterus. Travis just help my hand and kept asking me if I was ok. I surprisingly had a pretty great attitude and didn't really get emotional. I was just SO anxious for the baby to come out because we were SO scared that something was terribly wrong with him causing him to be so small and not grow. I could hear my dr. making comments about the size of my uterus (that it barely looked bigger than a non-pregnant uterus).

It wasn't long before she told Travis and I that we'd be hearing a "little cry". We were so anxious. Finally, we heard the most BEAUTIFUL sound ever! Our little boy was screaming away! The nurses shouted out the time (15:06) and I started to get really emotional. I just knew he was going to be ok! I asked the dr if he was tiny and she said yes, "he's a little fella!". I was so excited to see him and kind of sad that I couldn't see anything. Travis jumped up and headed over to the cleaning station with the nursery nurse and was able to cut the cord stump and take pictures. The little fella was 4 lbs 9 oz and 18 inches! He FINALLY came back over to me (it felt like hours later) with our beautiful baby boy! He was perfect. We knew after looking at him that he was going to be ok! Travis brought him over and I examined him and gave both he and Travis a kiss.

It was about that time that I started to get extremely nauseous. I was dry heaving as best I could considering I couldn't feel ANYTHING! I could see the sadness in Travis's eyes! He had to go to the nursery with Kylar and felt so helpless for me. As much as he wanted to go I know he felt so bad to leave me there. Luckily the awesome anesthesiologist was able to give me an alcohol swab under the nose and help with the nausea. They finished stitching me up and the surgery was over. My dr. told me while she was stitching me back up that my placenta looked "crummy" and that it was definitely pre-eclamptic. She sent it off to pathology to be examined. She also told me that she was so glad we did the surgery that day and that she would definitely sleep better that night knowing that Kylar had been delivered and she didn't wait any longer. I had an overwhelming peace with everything that had just taken place. As much as I had dreaded a c-section and as traumatic as the days events were, I knew GOD had his hand on us and had given our dr. wisdom. It was absolutely the right decision. Even though sometimes we don't know why things are happening or can't forsee the end result, he is in control. I am so very thankful.

Anyway- after being stitched up, I was wheeled back to my room where I got to see a few visitors. They gave me a little something for pain and it was at least an hour before I was finally able to see Kylar. He wasn't interested in nursing right away but eventually caught on later in the night. He was absolutely perfect and I was COMPLETELY in love!

A lot of the rest of the day is sort of a haze because I was put on Magnesium Sulfate (HORRIBLE stuff!) to prevent seizures from the pre-eclampsia. The effects were pretty crappy! It made me see double, very dizzy and extremely hot. Luckily I was only on it for 24 hours. I was bed ridden until I came off of it the next day but I was able to see some visitors that night. Even though the experience was a little traumatic and unexpected, I wouldn't change a thing. God certainly had his hand upon our family and we are so very blessed!

During the surgery

After getting the shocking news that we'd be having a baby in 15 minutes!!!

Mom and I before I headed out

No turning back now!

During one of the contractions!

If you made it all the way through this, bless you ;) I'll post more later about the next ten days we spent in the hospital!

A delayed update!!

2009-12-03T16:39:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry it's taken us so long to update! I hope to update more with pictures and stories of the past month's happenings in the next several days. As you can imagine, things have been a bit hectic!

For starters- After a routine appt. and growth ultrasound on Friday October 30th, it was revealed that the baby was still not doing much growing and had fallen below the 10th percentile in growth. This was very alarming. That was coupled with record high blood pressure for me. It was somewhere around 165/105. I was immediately sent up to the Women's Center for the 5th time that week to be monitored.

After about an hour, my blood pressure continued to increase and my labs eventually came back. The lab work revealed changes in my platlet levels. The pre-eclampsia was pretty much confirmed at that point. During this same time, I was hooked up to an NST monitor for the baby and a contraction monitor. I started having contractions about 4-5 minutes apart and they were getting stronger. We won't know for sure, but the dr. was pretty sure I was actually going in to labor on my own! My dr. came in to visit about an hr after we'd been at the Women's Center and told my mom, Travis and I to prepare for a c-section that day. She came back in about five minutes later and said we'd be heading to the OR in about 20 minutes! We were beyond shocked to say the least!!!

About an hour later, God blessed us with the most amazing gift we'd ever layed eyes on. I will post a full story later of my experience in the OR and the days events along with pictures....

But Kylar Nicholas Holland was born at 36 weeks at 3:06 pm on October 30, 2009. I've never been so scared in my life- but after one look at him, I knew he was absolutely perfect. He was 4 lbs, 9 oz and 18 inches long. My placenta confirmed atypical severe pre-eclampsia which caused pretty significant fetal growth restriction. My poor guy wasn't getting any nourishment. I couldn't be more thankful for my amazing dr. for making such a great call and getting my precious boy here safely.

The next two weeks weren't without challenges, as we spent 12 days in the hospital for various issues (I'll post more info later!) but the good news is... we're all HAPPY, HEALTHY AND INCREDIBLY BLESSED!!! God is good and we're so in love with our new family! Thank you to ll of our friends and family for the unconditional love and amazing support we've received over the past few months. You guys are irreplaceable :)

36w bump

2009-10-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

36 week baby progress

2009-10-28T12:01:00.001-07:00

Here's what baby H should be up to this week ;)

By this week of pregnancy your baby's crown-to-rump length reaches about 13.5 inches and the total length is approximately 20.7 inches. Your baby weighs about 6 pounds now. The top of your uterus has moved further up under your ribs and is about 5.5 inches above your bellybutton. Your uterus has grown a lot in the past few weeks as your baby has gained weight. You may have gained about 30 pounds by now and it is common for your weight to stay about the same from this point onwards.

Because the top of the uterus is high as it will be, breathing may be getting very uncomfortable at times. You might notice jabbing pains from your baby's kicks. However, within the next few weeks, your baby will drop into the birth canal and this will make breathing easier again. Most doctors like to see their patients weekly from now on to check for labor progression. Your prenatal classes are probably coming to an end and you should have already made a birth plan and discussed available options for pain control during pregnancy.

Your baby's face has filled out significantly and looks smooth and plump. Because your baby has powerful sucking muscles and has had layers of fat forming for quite some time now, the cheeks have filled out like a newborn's. Your baby's skull is firm, but not hard. Every baby's head has the ability to give slightly so that there is room for her to fit down the birth canal during delivery. Some babies are born with cone shaped heads from the pressure of delivery, but this will go away after delivery. The amount of amniotic fluid is at its maximum amount now and your baby may not be moving as much as she had been. As long as you still feel her movements every day, there should be no cause for concern.

The placenta is now one-sixth of the fetal weight.

Quick update

2009-10-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

After we got back from the NST on Thursday, we ended up back at the women's center on Saturday night because I was so swollen and my blood pressure was back up. I was in triage for a few hours and they were able to get my BP back down. All of my labs and urine still look good, so they are not suspecting pre-eclampsia just yet.

I was hoping that'd be the end of the blood pressure debacle! I had a follow up appt. this morning to re-check my urine and blood pressure. Well- it was through the roof again, so back to the women's center I went! They were able to get it to come down again and I was able to go home! I have to repeat my labs and 24 urine when we go to our big appt. on Friday (This is the appt. where we'll find out about the baby's growth as well as the c-section).

The dr seems to think at this point it is just pregnancy induced hypertension- which often happens for no apparent reason towards the end of pregnancy. So long as it doesn't start to show changes in blood or urine, we should be ok! I, unfortunately, have to remain on pretty strict bed rest for now, but our little blessing will be here in a few weeks and it will all be worth it! Thanks again for all of the continued thoughts and prayers!

NST and a few pics!

2009-10-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

Last night we had to head back to the hospital to drop off my 24 hour urine bucket. Good times ;) I also had to do a non stress test to make sure the baby was doing fine. My blood pressure was pretty good and the baby was doing wonderfully! I have to go back to the dr. on Tuesday to re-check blood pressure and urine and then we're set for our growth scan on next Friday. We're VERY anxious to see what our little guy has been up to in the past 3 weeks! We can't wait to meet him!!!

Here are a few maternity pics-- Enjoy ;)

35 week appt.

2009-10-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had our 35 week appt. We met with the dr. for the first time and I really liked her! She was pleased with my food diary and that I had gained a few lbs since being on bed rest. I've really got the hang of eating everything in sight Whatever my little guy needs

She did my group b strep swab and asked if I wanted to be checked. Of course, I said YES! Boy did I NOT know what I was getting myself into! Needless to say I was only 1 cm dilated and 60 % effaced.

Now onto the bad news--- My blood pressure was through the roof both times they checked it, so they sent Travis and I over to L&D where we had to stay for the next 5 hours while they monitored my BP, contractions and the baby. My BP eventually went down, I was having quite a few contractions, but the baby was doing great. They sent me home with the pee container to collect for 24 hours. I have to take it back tonight and then stay for a Non stress Test to be sure the baby isn't under any sort of distress. This makes me feel a little better because his movements have slowed some recently. The dr. anticipates that all will be fine with both my BP and the NST.

I also got a short 15 sec. u/s in the hospital to make sure he was still head down because the dr said when she examined me she couldn't tell. Luckily- he's still in the right position! Woohoo!! We go for our next growth scan next Friday to determine if he has fattened up any and hopefully I will get off of bed rest if he has! I'm hoping for good news

35 week bump and a quick update

2009-10-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Many of you have been asking for an update and I apologize that I've yet to post one! Afterall, I have been couch-ridden. There's really no excuse ;) I have remained on bedrest and will continue to do so until October 30th when we find out if the baby has done any growing. I must say, I am INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLY blessed. So many people have reached out to us, we've had tons of phone calls, visitors, thoughts and prayers. We are SO very grateful for everyone's support! My job has been so gracious and good to me- I couldn't be more thankful. My husband has been amazing and so accommodating- despite his many trips to the woods, he's still been extremely supportive and sacrificed a great deal! My parents and in-laws have been a godsend! And thank you to all of our wonderful friends as well!

I've been keeping busy with company from my mom, baking, folding clothes from the couch, working on my lap top, scrap booking and watching movies! I look forward to returning to my normal activities as soon as I can but know I am doing what is very best for our little baby boy! We can't wait to meet him!!!

We don't really have an update on the baby and won't know much until our follow up ultrasound on October 30th. We do have a regular appt. tomorrow and I will update afterward if there is any new news. Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers!! We'll keep you posted :)

35 week baby progress

2009-10-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Your baby now weighs over 5.5 pounds and its crown-to-rump length is approximately 13.2 inches. Your baby's total length is around 20.25 inches at this point. Your uterus is now 6 inches from the bellybutton and the average weight gain is approximately 24 to 29 pounds.

Most pregnant women begin to feel cramped and heavy around this time and often become tired of being pregnant. Some women feel like they do not have to room to breathe or eat. You should eat small, but frequent, meals and rest as often as you can throughout the day. Your cervix will begin to dilate and efface within the next few weeks to make room for your baby's head to emerge from the birth canal. Your cervix needs to be 10 cm dilated in order to deliver your baby.

This week of your pregnancy your baby's fingernails will have definitely reached the tips of his fingers. When your baby is born, his nails may look long and pointy. Your baby is less likely to scratch himself at this point because of the lack of room in the uterus. Fat deposition will still continue and your baby is getting chubbier and rounder. Your baby's shoulders are plump at this point.

The baby begins to develop its own immune system.

Update from yesterday's appt.

2009-10-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had our growth u/s and regular 33 week appt. If you recall, at our last appt., the baby was measuring 4 weeks behind. We had the u/s and the baby looked good. The placenta seemed to look fine as well as the fluid levels. He was, however, still measuring very very small. She measured him to be in the 17th percentile. They said that they do not get overly concerned until you get below the 10th percentile or if the baby appears to not be making steady growth. We're set to go back in 2 weeks for our regular appt and three weeks for another growth scan to see if there is improvement in his growth. With that said.... I've been put on bed rest for the next three weeks.

I have to keep a food diary for the next two weeks and increase my caloric intake in hopes to fatten the little guy up. I've got strict bed, couch, bathroom orders. If the baby does not have a significant amount of growth after the three weeks of increased calories and bed rest, they will induce labor and begin fattening him up on the outside.

They told me that his size could simply be a result of my small frame and size coupled with a fast metabolism and being very active. There could also be placental problems (though the placenta did look good). It's also possible that it could be inter uterine growth restriction. Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) We are holding out faith that sitting around sipping milkshakes is going to fatten this baby up and in three weeks he will be good to go! If not, we're prepared for an induction. We just want him to be happy and healthy and strong. Thanks for all of your prayers!

In regards to the c/s recommendation:
I brought this up at yesterday's appt. They still hadn't received anything from the neurologist, but did send something over requesting it. After talking with the NP, she set me up to see the dr. at my next visit. She did, however, say that she feels very strongly that both my dr. and my insurance company would require more urgency/medical complications to approve the c-section. She doesn't think it will be an issue. She said if nothing else, my dr (OB ) would approve a trial labor. I won't know for sure until I talk to the actual OB in two weeks, but I do feel a little better about the situation.

Updates....

2009-10-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

Last week was not particularly cheerful for us. After hearing that our little guy was measuring a month behind, I had a less than optimal dr's appt....
Last Tuesday I had the appt. with my neurologist. If you look down a few posts, I explained why I had to go. Well, his "medical recommendation" was ..... deep breath....., c section.

I was absolutely devastated. We've done all the right things! We planned this pregnancy, we took the classes, we read the books, we planned our ideal "delivery",... it was a HUGE blow. After having some time to let it sink in (and having a moajor cry session in my WONDERFUL husband's arms), I am happy to say that I'm feeling much better about the possibility. I know many of you are probably thinking, "C-section? Big deal! People have them everyday!".

This is true, but I suppose I felt like I was having my birth experience overhauled, I was scared of the actual surgery itself, not being mobile, not being able to hold my little guy or be all 'with it' for his birth, breastfeeding difficulties, complications with the surgery, having to PICK our babies birthday instead of letting nature take it's course, etc. etc etc. The list goes on. After having a week to stew on it, I am feeling much much better.

With that said- I still have to talk to my ob's office and see if they will go along with this recommendation or allow me to make the decision on my own. If they insist that we will be going along with the neurologist's recommendation, I am fully prepared to get a second opinion, as I am leary of his recom. and his overall diagnosis. The neurologist's reason for the c-section is that pushing, "may possibly cause me to retrigger symptoms I had in the past".- ie: headaches. Not only is this not enough reason to justify getting sliced open (in my opinion) but I am not convinced he's accurate with his diagnosis, which is why I un-medicated myself to begin with.

I am fully prepared- either way- for the decisions to be made and will have peace regardless. I only want what is BEST for both my son and myself and wouldn't think about jeopardizing either of our health. I do, however, want to make sure that whichever conclusion is reached, it is done so thoroughly and with purpose. I'd hate to have the surgery simply based on a misguided recommendation. I will absolutely keep you posted as to what the outcome is or will be.

In other IMPORTANT baby news ;) We get to see our little guy tomorrow which we are SO excited about! I can't believe it's been 17ish weeks or so since we've seen him and I'm sure he's changed and grown so much. We are having our growth ultrasound to be sure that he is measuring and growing properly, considering his fundal measurements were off my 4 weeks at our last appt. I am very anxious but am so thankful for all of the prayers we've received and feel sure that God has his hand on my precious baby! I know he is going to be just perfect. After the ultrasound, we will have our 33 week appt. and I'll also get a chance to go over the neurologists' recommendation. I will post more in the next few days about the outcome of all of it! I know this was long- but those are the latest updates =) Thanks for reading!!

Baby H's progress @ 33 weeks...

2009-10-05T06:31:00.000-07:00

Your baby weighs about 4.4 pounds at this point. The crown-to-rump length of your baby is approximately 12 inches and the total length is around 19.4 inches. Measuring from the top of your uterus to your bellybutton is 5.2 inches. Total weight gain at this point of pregnancy is usually 22 to 28 pounds.

With the exception of crying, your baby is capable of doing everything that a newborn baby will do. Your baby is restricted now inside of the uterus, but still can kick and move. Your baby sleeps a lot of the time, just as newborn babies do. Your baby's eyes move in the manner of REM sleep and researchers believe that babies can dream vividly in uterus. When your baby is awake, she is listening, feeling and learning. There are billions of neurons in the brain that make trillions of connections. Your baby will probably have settled into the birth position by now and your caregiver can most likely tell which way your baby is presenting. If your baby were to be born now, the lungs would probably be strong enough to function properly, but your baby may still need extra care from specially trained doctors and nurses.

During these last few weeks of pregnancy, most women experience an increased urge to urinate. The uterus puts a lot of pressure on the bladder and can send you to the restroom frequently. Your uterus has actually grown 500 times throughout your pregnancy! Red blood cell production catches up with the production of plasma and physiological anemia may begin to fade at this time.

Your baby's eyes open during alert times and close during sleep. The eye color is usually blue, regardless of the permanent color as pigmentation is not fully developed. The final formation of eye pigmentation requires exposure to light and usually happens a few weeks after birth.

33 week bump

2009-10-05T06:22:00.000-07:00

I appologize that there has not been a recent update- but I promise to update very soon! I have a hectic work day but will write more later! In the meantime, here's a 33 week bump update! This Wednesday is the growth ultrasound to check on the little guy and we're really looking forward to seeing him again :)

32 weeks.

2009-09-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

Just FYI- Tomorrow morning is my appt. with the neurologist regarding delivery. Due to being diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation and Papilledema as a teenager, there were concerns regarding a vaginal delivery, due to the increased inter-cranial pressure during delivery. I've been crossing my fingers this entire pregnancy for an o-k on a vaginal birth and definitely have my heart set on it. Obviously I'll do whatever it takes to get my little one here safely, but we'll find out tomorrow what the neurologist has to say. Because I've felt great and had very little problems for several years, I am certainly hoping for an expecting the best! I'll keep you posted!

Now... here's what the lil' guy is up to this week!!
By week 32, your baby weighs nearly 4 pounds! The crown-to-rump length of your baby is approximately 11.7 inches and the total length is about 18.9 inches. Your uterus is now 5 inches above your bellybutton. Some doctors do not see their patients every other week until now. So, if you were going to the doctor monthly, you may begin going once every other week now.

The baby sleeps 90-95% of the day, and sometimes experiences REM sleep, an indication of dreaming.

Now that your baby has grown so long and your uterus is higher, you might notice a new discomfort. Your baby is probably head-down and may occasionally stretch out and kick you in the ribs. The pressure on your rib cage can make you sore, especially if one of your baby's feet becomes caught. You can prevent this by sitting up straight as much as possible. Because your baby's demands for vitamins and minerals are higher than ever right now, you should continue to take your parental vitamins for the entire pregnancy.

This week your baby's movements will peak. You should continue to monitor the fetal movements daily and address any concerns with your caregiver. The wrinkles in your baby's face are disappearing and fat is still being deposited throughout the baby's body.

The body growth slows down from now on. Because of the lack of space in the uterus, the legs are drawn up in what is known as the fetal position. As a preparation for breastfeeding, your baby has learned to root for the breast. The baby will turn its head if touched on the cheek and open its mouth if the bottom lip is tickled. By this time the baby can also suck and swallow in a coordinated way.

Appt update...

2009-09-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, Travis and I had our 31 week appt. We're on the every two week deal right now and most of our appts are pretty routine and mundane at this point. This week in particular, I had several things to talk to the midwife about, because I hadn't been feeling too pleasant. I've had lots of cramping, tons of Braxton Hicks and some abdominal and back pain- similar to the pain I experienced at 21 weeks with the kidney stones.

Our appt. was at 4:15 and the office was an absolutely madhouse! Of the 4 dr's and midwives on staff that day, 2 were out with emergencies, leaving only 2 to take on all of their patients. Needless to say, it was over an hour and 15 minutes before we were finally seen. As if the wait wasn't enough... the midwife informed me that my weight had decreased the past 2 visits (so I HAVE to beef up the protein intake) and I had blood in my urine indicating another kidney stone. YIKES! Unfortunately, there isn't much they can do for them, other than send you to the ER when things get bad. Luckily my pain hasn't been intolerable and if it does I suppose we'll treck on over the the hospital.

She said the Braxton Hicks and cramping were pretty normal, which I figured. The babys heartbeat sounded good and he is now in the head down position. He's very low and my abdomen is very tight! The concerning part of the appt. came when she did the fundal measurements and told us that the baby was measuring 4 weeks behind. She seemed a little concerned and scheduled us for an ultrasound at our next visit.

Travis and I literally spent the next 2 hours a worried, nervous mess thinking of all the awful possibilities of our baby being to small. I was comforted to hear that the fundal measurements can be off and aren't always accurate. The midwife did also say that it's likely I'm just a small person who will deliver a small baby. All of my mom's children were small and we're claiming that this is the explaination! My fears still remain, but I guess this is just the beginning of parenthood and I'm sure the worrying will never stop. I will continue to trust that the ultrasound in 2 weeks will show that our little guy is healthy and growing. I know that God is in control and I trust that he will see us through. Thank you to everyone who has lifted our family up in prayer. I will keep you posted :)

Here's an *almost* 32 week (8month) shot of the growing bump!

Baby H @ week 31

2009-09-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Your baby is continuing to grow each week that you remain pregnant. Your baby's crown-to-rump length is nearly 11.2 inches and total length is approximately 18 inches. Your baby weighs approximately 3.5 pounds at this point. Your uterus is about 4.4 inches above your bellybutton and continues to get larger. An average weight gain at this point is between 21 and 27 pounds. The weight that you gain is made up of your baby, placenta, blood supply, uterus, breasts, fat, water storage and amniotic fluid.

Because the ligaments and muscles supporting the small of your back relax and loosen in order to get ready for childbirth, your back may be aching from now on. There is usually nothing that can be done to prevent backaches, only to make them more comfortable. Many women get heartburn during these last few weeks of pregnancy because the oversized uterus leaves less room for the stomach and the contents within the stomach. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help relieve the discomforts of heartburn.

This week marks an incredible milestone in your baby's lung development. Before now, the air sacs and branches in your baby's lungs were present but not functional. The lungs were not able to inflate properly. However, now there is surfactant being produced in your baby's lungs (YAY!!) Surfactant prevents your baby's lungs from collapsing outside of the uterus and the baby is able to take in air and breathe properly. The fetal ear is almost completely developed both inside and out. Your baby can hear your voice and other familiar sounds that she will recognize after birth. Your baby is putting on white fat under the skin and the skin's color is pink instead of red at this point. Your baby's fingernails have grown to the end of her fingers and she may scratch herself while she is in the womb.

31 week update:

2009-09-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well! This was definitely an interesting week around casa de Holland! I started early in the week with some pretty strong Braxton Hicks contrations and they continued most of the week. I suppose my body is just practicing for the real thing! I had experienced a few of these in weeks prior, but nothing as intense or frequent as this week! Baby H's movement is also getting stronger. The kicks/punches/elbows are starting to feel more intense. I suppose he's getting stronger and a little more powerful ;) He seems to have found a nice set of monkey bars via my right rib cage :) He's a big fan!

Saturday I was able to attend a breastfeeding class that the hospital offered and I really enjoyed it. I plan to breastfeed and pump as long as I can, so it was really nice to get some info and a little encouragement. I can't believe we're in single digit weeks and our little guy will be here so soon! Here's a bump update for week 31!

Shower Pics

2009-09-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

30 week bump!

2009-09-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

That's right... 10 weeks and counting!! Wooohoooo!!

Although we're secretly hoping it's only another 7 or 8 ;)

30 week progress!

2009-09-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

First I have to say that my baby shower yesterday was absolutely INCREDIBLE. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and such an awesome family. God has really blessed us by surrounding us with some of the most thoughtful, caring and loving people. I couldn't ask for a greater support system. Thank you to EVERYONE!!!! I promised to post pictures as soon as I get them from my mom and mother-in-law.

30 WEEKS PREGNANT:
You may feel as if you have been pregnant forever at this point. It might be hard to imagine being pregnant for another ten weeks, but your baby still has a lot of growing and developing to do! By this time, your baby's crown-to-rump length is a little over 10.8 inches and the total length of your baby is about 17 inches! Your baby weighs about 3 pounds now. Your uterus can be felt about 4 inches above your bellybutton. Your uterus, baby, placenta and the amount of fluid will get larger over the next ten weeks. You should be gaining about a pound a week at this time.

Because you are getting larger, you are probably becoming slower and clumsier. You should try to be careful to avoid dangerous falls. Good posture when sitting and standing can help you feel better during your pregnancy. You also should be rolling over on your side to get up after lying down because your muscles have stretched to accommodate your growing uterus.

Even though your baby is cushioned by the amniotic fluid, she can feel and respond to pain. Your baby now does `practice breathing` to get ready for life outside of your womb. If you have an ultrasound at this time, you will be able to see this. If your baby swallows amniotic fluid down the wrong passage, she will still get hiccups that are noticeable by you. If your baby were born at this time, she would be able to keep herself warm.

The skin begins to smoothen as fat deposits accumulate underneath. The fat insulates and is an energy source.

29 weeks

2009-09-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

We have our 29 week appt. today and I'll update later on how it goes. At this point, appt's are pretty mundane and routine, so there is little to report. I've yet to hear back on my GTTest so I am assuming that no news is good news! I am very much looking forward to my first baby shower this weekend and promise to post pictures :) Things are definitely coming down to home stretch, but these last 10 or so weeks will probably drag by! 64 days and counting until my maternity leave starts and I couldn't be more ready! Here's what the little one is up to this week:

At this point in your pregnancy, your baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 10.4 inches and the total length of your baby is around 16.7 inches. Your baby weighs about 2.7 pounds and continues to grow every day. If you measure from your bellybutton, your uterus is 3.5 to 4 inches above it. Total weight gain at this point is usually between 19 and 25 pounds ((thank goodness I'm not there yet!!!))

Babies that are born prematurely can be very tiny. Even a baby that is only a few weeks early can be very small. Your baby will grow rapidly from now until week 36, and then at a slower rate thereafter. Generally, boys weigh more than girls at birth. The average baby's birth weight at full term is 7 to 7.5 pounds.

You might notice some leakage of colostrums from your breasts around this time. Colostrums is a sticky, watery substance that provides your baby's first food if you choose to breastfeed. Milk does not come in immediately after delivery and colostrums is high in calories and enough for your baby's first few days of life. Your baby is stimulating the production of colostrums. The baby's body is ensuring that there will be a readily available food supply after delivery.

Your baby will continue to open and close his eyes in the womb and may be able to see silhouettes of objects or even people in the right amount of light. Your baby should be moving many times throughout the day. Some of your baby's movements will be predictable and if you notice a decrease in fetal movements, you should lie down and do a fetal kick count. You should feel your baby move approximately ten times in an hour. If you do not notice the proper amount of movements, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Research has shown that your baby is not only able to hear, but also able to recognize your own voice. This shows that your baby can already learn, remember and recognize.

29 week bump!

2009-09-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

27 week appt

2009-08-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had our 27.5 week appt. and I had my glucose tolerance test. I was only able to have toast for breakfast and my appt wasn't until 3, so I was pretty hungry by the time we got out of there!! Everything looked great. The "juice" for the test wasn't quite as bad as I thought it would be, but it certainly wasn't delicious ;) After I drank the juice, we went back to be seen. I had a bit of a meltdown after getting weighed (I am still struggling a little bit with this, but I think 90% of it is totally hormonal). Travis convinced the dr. that I'm a nut :) Thanks, hunny!

After I got myself together, the rest of the appt. went great. The baby sounded wonderful and it appears that he has flipped head down. He's definitely not engaged and will do some more flipping (hopefully not too late and get stuck breech!!) before it's all over. I knew he had flipped because my belly looks a bit different and I've been feeling feet in my rib cage! I signed off for my vaginal delivery and hope and pray we're able to follow through with that! They went over the delivery process and were able to ask some questions. Overall, it was a great appt. After my final blood draw, we finally got out of there around 4 and headed straight to Chick-fil-A :D This is becoming quite the riutal for us! I'll know the results of the GT test in a few days.

Until then, we're BEACH BOUND for the next week! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and update upon our return. This vacation is LONG overdue and we couldn't be more excited!!

XoXO

What happened to my innie?

2009-08-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

And where did that ugly dark line come from ?!? Thanks, pregnancy!

27 week bump

2009-08-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Monday AM

This morning (wed AM)- and some water retention :)

Hello 3rd Trimester :)

2009-08-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

SO glad you're here!!

Today marks 27 weeks and the beginning of the end! I will be considered FULL TERM in a mere 10 weeks. Holy Moly, time sure does fly! Now that the nursery is ready and we're beginning to fill it up with goodies, it seems the only thing missing is our little boy! We absolutely can't wait to meet him! We do, however, want him to keep on cooking until he's nice and plump ;) Here's what is going on this week!

You are now in the third trimester, and last, of your pregnancy! Your baby's crown-to-rump length is about 9.6 inches and your baby's total length is approximately 15.3 inches! Your baby now weighs about 2 pounds 3 ounces and is going to grow rapidly during this last trimester! Your uterus is about 2.8 inches above your bellybutton.

If your baby were born now, it would have an 85% chance of surviving. Even though your baby is still not fully developed, she would be well within the limits of premature viability. You still have approximately 13 weeks left of your pregnancy, and during this time your baby must continue to grow and develop. If your baby was born at this time, she would have several complications that would require special attention. Because babies do not have adequate amounts of fat at this time, your baby would have to be kept inside of an incubator for warmth. Because the air sacs in your baby's lungs do not yet have surfactant, she would require an artificial respirator. Your baby's brain, liver and immune system still need to develop more also.

Finishing Touches...

2009-08-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

The color is off because my flash still isn't working and I tried to play with the contrast... and there's a glare from the window... but you'll get the idea!! Travis and I put a few more finishing touches on the nursery last night. The vinyl lettering I ordered came in a we put it up, along with the last piece of border. It's all coming together so nicely!! Now we just need a sweet little baby in the crib ;)

A few pics..

2009-08-17T08:22:00.001-07:00

We still need a table for that corner, but we improvised! The crib has also since been moved over to the right.

The new blinds, pictures and valance.

The dresser/changing station. I plan on purchasing two matching frames for up top, but the candle and frame work for now :)

The new border!

New ceiling fan and lamp (in the corner!)

Bear with me... because the pics are not that great of quality. For some reason my flash has not been working, so the pictures are a bit dark and grainy... but you get the idea! I will update with more pictures as we continue to make progress :)

Thanks to both of our parents for all of your help :)

26 weeks and other updates!

2009-08-17T08:04:00.001-07:00

Here's a front and a side shot for this week's bump update :)

So- 26 weeks! Wow! It's the last week on the second trimester and the last week of my 6th month! I am still feeling pretty good! We made LOTS of progress on the nursery this weekend and I'll post pictures of that soon! Tonight is our 3rd out of 4 childbirth classes. Tonight's class is on interventions (c-sections, inductions, epidurals, pain meds, etc). I enjoy learning but think this portion may freak me out! I'm hoping and praying I'll get the birth I want, but know *anything can happen* so it's important to know what to potentially expect. Baby H is still as active as ever and let's me know he's in there ;) We love feeling him move around and practice his boxing skills :) More pics to come soon!

25 week appt.

2009-08-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Travis and I met with the P.A (whom we love) for our 25 week appt. We're pretty sad that she doesn't deliver babies, but we love our midwife and hope she'll be on call :)

Everything looked great. My weight was about the same, BP was good, and the baby's heart rate was just perfect! He's not a fan of the doppler and kicked it off while she was trying to listen! He was measuring around 24-25 weeks, so right on target! We scheduled our next appt for two weeks which is when I'll get the dreadful gestational diabetes (sugar test). I'm hoping I'm in the clear. Although I already have a good diet, I'd hate to be even more restricted. After our appt we had a good dinner and finished up some purchases for the nursery. We're still working away and I hope to have pictures very soon. Who knew it'd take us so long ;)

I can NOT believe that after yesterday's appt we now go every TWO WEEKS! Time has just flown by and I'll be in the final trimester in a matter of weeks! We have to also pre-register at the hospital at our next visit. Ahhh!!! Childbirth classes are still going well! We have our third one this Monday and our final one the following Monday. Because I can't get an epidural, I need to learn all of the coping mechanisms I can get my paws on! It's been very informative and pretty helpful.

We're very excited to meet this little guy and also very excited for our baby showers in the coming weeks and months. Thanks again to everyone who has been keeping up with us! We love you all and I'll update soon :)

I've fallen in love with...

2009-08-11T11:03:00.001-07:00

These maternity and baby pictures!! I wish this photographer was in VA! I think it's so special that Baby H will be born right at the holidays and I can't wait for all of the festive photos to be taken :) Enjoy these... I know I did!

http://www.buttonsandbowsphotography.com/index2.php

Cute baby findings/wishlist...

2009-08-11T10:45:00.001-07:00

http://www.personalizationmall.com/Personalized-My-First-Thanksgiving-Baby-Bib-i25046.item?productid=7981&storeid=30&categoryid=1396&did=7659

http://www.zazzle.com/babys_first_thanksgiving_tshirt-235098856252518634

http://www.cafepress.com/1siesandmore.72994846?r=cj&CMP=OTC:commissionjunction&CMP=CJ-CLICK-10467594&sid=10030000

http://www.personalizationmall.com/Product.aspx?productID=5802&sdest=search&sdestid=0&siteID=RSSk9krQ6nA-JBuzbN9.uBxC4iEE2XZQkA

http://cgi.ebay.com/Boutique-Hartstrings-Baby-Boys-Golf-Shirt-Short-18-24-M_W0QQitemZ260412817956QQcmdZViewItem

www.personalizationmall.com

Bump ;)

2009-08-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

Here's the 25 week bump! Time is FLYING!

And for fun... a little before/after!

25 weeks!!!

2009-08-10T06:22:00.000-07:00

Your baby's crown-to-rump length is about 8.8 inches. Weight has increased to around 1.5 pounds and fat is still being deposited at a high rate. Babies come in all shapes and sizes, so your baby could vary slightly from these `average` measurements. Your uterus has grown quite a bit bigger this week. The top of your uterus is between your bellybutton and your sternum. Your uterus is about the size of a soccer ball now!

If your baby is delivered at this time, it would have a good chance of surviving. It is best for your baby to remain inside of you for the remainder of the pregnancy, but great advances have been made in the care of a premature baby. Ventilators, monitors and medications all help premature babies develop and grow outside of the womb. If your baby were born this early, he would probably have to spend several months in the hospital and would be more susceptible to infections and other complications.

You can hear your baby's heartbeat with both a Doppler and a stethoscope at this time, and your partner may even be able to hear the heartbeat unaided if he puts his ear in the right position. Sex differentiation is being completed now. If you are expecting a baby boy, the testes start to descend into the scrotum. In baby girls, the vagina is hollowing out. Your baby is able to do more with their fingers now and can move his fingers to make a complete fist. As your baby becomes more dexterous, he will be able to touch and hold his feet. Babies also begin to prefer their left hand or right hand at this time. Because babies settle into routines of sleep and activity, you might begin to notice these patterns as well. Some women experience the most fetal movements while they are trying to rest.

24 week bump

2009-08-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

We're officially 6 months pregnant! (although we started the 6 month last week). I can't believe there are only 3 more weeks of the second trimester and then we'll be down to home stretch! I'm SO ready for this baby to be here, although we're not quite prepared ;) Tonight we start our first (in a series of 4) childbirth classes. I'm pretty excited and look forward to learning! I'll try to take pictures! Anyway- without further hesitation, here's this weeks bump:

23 bump and progress

2009-07-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

Well, we're officially in the 6th month and feeling great. I have to admit, the changes to my body and the weight gain were really hard to digest at first, but as my belly rounds out I am beginning to feel more confident in my new body. During the past week, I have really started to feel more and more consistent movement and Travis has began feeling it as well. It's absolutely amazing and we love that time together! The baby has started responding to food (he LOVES lunch time) and noises. We've started Baby Beethoven and let him listen to it as often as possible (putting headphones on my belly). This is supposed to have the "Mozart effect" and help the baby figure out the patterns, get the brain working and help with spatial relationship skills. Regardless of if that's true or not, it is soothing to the baby and we enjoy his reaction to the music.

My progress with the nursery has been at a stand still but I hope to finish it in the near future! I know that time is ticking away!!! With Travis and I working totally opposite schedules, it can be a challenge.. but we'll get there! Happy Monday to all and thanks for following Baby H's progress =) We're totally in love with our little guy!

23 weeks!

2009-07-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

This week your baby's length, from crown-to-rump, is approximately 8 inches! Your growing baby has finally reached one pound. Your baby is about the size of a small baby doll and looks very human. The baby's face and body look similar to that of a newborn at this time. Your uterus can be found about 1.5 inches above your navel. Your total weight gain should be approximately 15 pounds at this time.

You might notice some Braxton-Hicks contractions around this time. These contractions are not regular and they should not be painful. Braxton-Hicks contractions prepare your body for the upcoming labor and they will get stronger as your pregnancy progresses. You might be able to feel the contractions if you put your hand on your abdomen and your baby can probably feel the uterus gripping and massaging her. It will not harm your baby, so there is no need for concern.

Fat is still being deposited at a rapid rate, but your baby still looks red and wrinkled. Skin is being produced at a higher rate than the fat is, so the skin hangs loosely. Your baby looks red because the skin is losing its transparency and pigment is beginning to form. You should be feeling your baby moving quite a bit throughout the day as she will kick and punch the uterus walls. Babies also run their hands along the umbilical cord and touch their body parts while they are in the womb. Your baby now can suck her thumb for real, where she was just sticking it in her mouth. Your baby will continue to swallow amniotic fluid and recycle it as urine. The liquids and sugars that the baby retracts from the fluid is a supplement to the nutrients that the placenta delivers. You might be able to feel small `jumps` inside of you when your baby gets the hiccups from swallowing fluid. The pancreas is developing and it will responsible for insulin production, to help break down sugars.

Oily fish in your diet could help boost your baby's health. (Women who eat oily fish while pregnant have children with better visual development, a major study at Bristol University suggests.)

As the baby continues to grow, it has less space to move around in the uterus. Bones, muscles and organs are growing steadily.

22 weeks...

2009-07-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

I know I am a little late...

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

How your life's changing:
At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate. What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track.

You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby. At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There's no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching.

22 week bump!

2009-07-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

21 week bump and a re-cap!

2009-07-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

The little boy is definitely growing! I think I may be finally starting to look pregant and not just fluffy ;)

Here's this weeks pic:

And for fun, here's a re-cap of previous weeks. If it's too small, just click on the image!

21 weeks.

2009-07-13T09:00:00.001-07:00

Your baby's blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture the baby. The placenta is now almost equal in size to the baby.

Your baby will be getting much larger during the second half of your pregnancy. Your baby's crown-to-rump length at this time is 7.2 inches and she weighs approximately 10.5 ounces. Your growing baby is about the size of a large banana. You should be able to feel your uterus about a half of an inch above your navel. Your weight gain so far will be around 10 to 15 pounds.

As your baby begins to lay down more fat, your weight will also increase. During the next 10 weeks, you will gain about half of the total gain for your entire pregnancy. Strangers can now tell that you are pregnant! You might notice an increase in appetite because you need 500 more calories a day to support your charged up metabolism. It is best to avoid processed foods or foods high in fat, calories or sugar. Some women also get strong cravings for foods. If you notice a craving for something unhealthy, you should contact your doctor. Craving for unusual things is known as pica. Some women crave cigarette ashes, charcoal, beer and other non-food items during this time.

Your baby's different organs and systems are maturing. The fetal digestive system is functioning in a simple way and your baby can swallow amniotic fluid. After your baby swallows the amniotic fluid, she is able to absorb water and sugars from the fluid and then the waste is passed as far as the large bowel. Your baby swallows the amniotic fluid in order to prepare itself for life outside of the womb. Some babies consume as much as 17 ounces of amniotic fluid in a 24-hour period. Your baby already has a high number of red blood cells and the white blood cells are beginning to be produced. Taste buds are being formed on your baby's tongue this week also.

Don't be surprised if your legs and feet become swollen throughout the day. You should try to get off of your feet some throughout the day and prop your legs up. If you notice a substantial amount of swelling, you should contact your healthcare provider for evaluation.

Belly Pic- 20 weeks

2009-07-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

Not much of a change from last week... but I definitely feel like I'm doing more growing in these last few weeks. I am feeling movement here and there... but nothing very constant just yet. I don't really have many cravings aside from sharp cheddar cheese at the moment! I am still feeling great and seem to have lots of energy. We are still working away on the nursery and I will post pics soon! I am almost done painting and then I can get the furniture back in there. I have been feeling som sharp abdominal pain since Saturday night and will be going to the dr. this afternoon. I feel sure everything is fine- but would rather be on the safe side. Other than that- I just can't believe that in a short 4 months (or 140 days) our little guy will be here! CRAZY!!! But I can't wait!

Half way there!!

2009-07-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we're "officially" half way there! It seems like just yesterday that we found out we were having a baby!! Time is certainly flying! I'll post a belly pic and updates later in the day. For now... here's a little tid bit on baby H's development this week!

Congratulations! This week marks the half way point of your pregnancy. It has been 18 weeks since the date of conception and your baby's crown-to-rump length is 5.6 to 6.4 inches. The fetus weighs about 9 ounces and your belly definitely has an obvious bulge. Your waistline has expanded and is no longer visible. Your uterus has now moved up enough that it is pushing your abdomen outwards. The top of your uterus is even with or just below your navel.

For the remainder of your pregnancy, the growing uterus puts pressure on your lungs, stomach and kidneys. This will make you feel short of breath, the need to urinate more frequently and can cause indigestion. The added pressure on your abdomen can also cause your bellybutton to protrude and cause an `outy` instead of an `inny`. Many pregnant women begin to notice stretch marks around this time as well. Your abdominal muscles are being stretched and pushed apart as your baby grows inside of you.

pregnology.com

Your baby's skin begins to thicken this week and will develop four layers. Your baby's sebaceous glands secrete a waxy substance called vernix caseosa. Your baby will be born with this wax and it will look like paste. The vernix caseosa is crucial because it protects the fetus' fragile skin from the continuous immersion in amniotic fluid. Lanugo hairs secure the vernix caseosa in place and it is thick around the eyebrows. Scalp hair and toenails are beginning to form at this point. Hair can also be seen on the upper lip and eyebrows.

Around twenty weeks, most doctors will order a routine ultrasound to check the baby's development. Measurements will be taken and the sonogram technician will check to make sure there are no defects or abnormalities. Your ultrasound technician can also see how long your cervix is and can tell you approximately how much your baby weighs at this time. Most expectant women also find out the sex of their baby during this time! If your sonographer does not offer pictures, ask them for a copy of the photos.

Oh boy.. he's a growin'!

2009-07-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

Baby H- in-utero... 19 weeks! I'm starting to feel HUGE!

19 weeks!

2009-06-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

Here's what our little guy is up to this week... courtesy of
3dpregnancy.parentsconnect.com

Your Baby
This week your baby starts bulking up and packing on the grossly named "brown fat" he'll need to keep warm when he gets evicted from his comfortable uterine home. Other highlights this week:

Vernix, a milky white coating that protects your baby's skin, appears all over your baby's body to keep his skin from getting pickled in the amniotic fluid. Think of it as if your baby has been dipped in yogurt, like those delicious but fake-healthy yogurt-covered raisins and pretzels. Ooh, we feel another craving comin' on. ... Under the vernix, a fuzzy layer of hair called lanugo now covers baby's body. Don't worry, your Mini won't look like Cousin It when he's born. Most of the fuzz will fall off before baby makes his grand entrance.

Good news: Your baby's kidneys are fully functioning and producing urine this week. Bad news: That means there will be lots of diapers in your future. But so far you're safe—at the moment the pee just passes into the amniotic fluid.

He or she now weighs about 8½ ounces and measures 6 inches, as long as a turkey sub from Subway on warm, delicious Italian Herbs and Cheese bread ;)

Bedding

2009-06-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Here's the bedding we've purchased!I'll upload pics when things start to come together ;)

Thanks for being SO patient!!

2009-06-26T08:04:00.001-07:00

Sorry it's taken me so long to update you, but yesterday was definitely a busy say for Travis and I! We had a GREAT appt! And we found out that baby Holland is in fact....

A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was very shocked, because I was 100% convinced it was a girl, but we are both absolutely thrilled! His heart rate was about 145 and he looked wonderful! It was a very exciting appt for us. He was NOT shy a bit and spread his legs as soon as she put the wand on my tummy! He's so sweet and precious already! He kept his hands by his face most of the time. I could just eat him up! We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping with my mom. We bought the entire bedding set with ALL of the accessories (so CUTE), the crib and a hutch and tons of clothes. I will post pics soon, I promise!!

We even put it all together last night and set everything up. We still have to paint, but I wanted to see everything put together! So-- we were basically on the run from 7am yesterday until about 11 pm last night! We had a blast and I am so excited to meet my little man! Travis is absolutely ecstatic to have another play mate! ;)

18 week belly pic

2009-06-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

I think I may be starting to 'pop'! While I still don't look very "pregnant" standing up... I can definitely start to see a difference and the scale is sure to remind me that this little one is growing away! I just noticed (I believe Sunday night) while lying in bed, that when I lay flat, the belly bulges up! I was blown away. I can feel EXACTLY where the baby is. It's very hard and obvious. I can also feel little flutters of movement here and there... but nothing that I'm able to identify just yet! I know it's only a matter of time before I feel a big giant kick and my belly looks like a beach ball ;)

In other news.... Travis and I have been about to bust for two weeks. That's right! The time is HERE!!! THis Thursday is the grand reveal! Send us some open leg vibes! I'm hoping the little one cooperates and shows his/her goods =) =) =) I'll be sure to update soon!

18 weeks... HOLY cow!

2009-06-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

(and only 3 more days til the big gender reveal !!!)

Here's what Baby H is up to this week:
By week 18 of your pregnancy, your baby's crown-to-rump length is 5 to 5.5 inches long. Your baby continues to develop fat layers and weighs about 5.25 ounces. Your baby will continue to grow and develop, but the rapid growth will slow down for a little while. You will be able to feel your uterus just below your bellybutton. If you put your fingers sideways to measure, you can feel your uterus about two finger-widths below your bellybutton. At this point of your pregnancy, your uterus is approximately the size of a cantaloupe. Although weight gain varies from woman to woman, your total weight gain at this point should be 10 to 13 pounds.

At this time if you had an ultrasound, heart abnormalities can be detected. If the ultrasound technician detects abnormalities, further ultrasound exams may be ordered to follow the baby's development. There is still space available in your uterus and your baby will be active for periods at a time. Your baby may sit cross legged or turn somersaults.

Around this time, your baby becomes more sensitive to the outside world and shows her presence through powerful kicks and prods. The bones through which sound is passed to the inner ear have hardened and the parts of the brain that receives and processes nerve signals from the ears are developing. This means that your baby can hear now. Your baby will get used to familiar sounds, such as your heart beating, familiar voices, blood rushing through the umbilical cord and other daily routine sounds. Your baby will become startled if he hears a loud sound.

If you have a stethoscope at home, you can now hear the baby's heartbeat yourself.

www.pregnology.com

17 week progress!

2009-06-15T06:51:00.000-07:00

Your baby's weight has doubled in two weeks and now weighs about 3.5 ounces! The crown-to-rump length of your growing baby is 4.4 to 4.8 inches. If you spread your hand out opened wide, you can see about how big your baby is.

Your uterus is moving up and is now approximately 1.5 to 2 inches below your navel. You are showing more now and there is a noticeable swelling in your abdomen. At this point in your pregnancy, a 5 to 10 pound weight gain is normal. Other people can probably feel the difference in your lower abdomen if they were to rub your tummy. To be the most comfortable, you should be wearing maternity clothes or clothing that is too large for you. You may have felt your baby move already. However, you might not feel it move every day at this point. As your pregnancy progresses, movements become stronger and more frequent. Feeling your baby move can help reassure you that your baby is doing well. You might also notice that your gums or nose bleed occasionally. This is from the increased blood volume that puts pressure on small blood vessels and capillaries.

Huge changes continue to take place within your developing baby. This week fat begins to form and will continue to do so until he is born. Fat is important to the body's heat production and metabolism. Right now, at 17 weeks, water makes up about 3 ounces and fat 0.018 ounces of your baby's body. In a baby at term, fat makes up about 5.25 pounds of the total average weight of 7.7 pounds. The placenta is continuing to grow at an amazing rate. The placenta will continue to develop in tandem with the fetus and it will weigh more than a pound at birth! By this week, the placenta is large and well established with a network of blood vessels that exchange nutrients and waste.

The eyes are facing more forward. The ears are now close to their final position.

Your baby is more flexible with ability to move head, mouth, lips, arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet, and toes.

Fingerprints are forming now.

17 week belly pic =)

2009-06-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

16 week appt.

2009-06-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

Travis and I had our 16 week appt! Everything went great! We met with the P.A. this time, as we are still making our rounds meeting everyone. Starting next visit, I should be able to see my regular midwife for each appt. The baby had a nice strong heartbeat of about 160!! They ran all sorts of blood work for the quad screen:

What's that you ask? http://www.pregnancy-calendars.net/quadscreen-test.aspx
The link will give you a little info.

All of my vitals were good and my weight was up about a pound and a half from pre pregnancy. The best news of ALL is that the P.A. was able to schedule our gender 4d ultrasound. I was more than thrilled! Our original mid wife insisted we wait the full 20 weeks, but the PA scheduled our scan for TWO WEEKS!! That's right,... we'll know the sex of our little baby in only TWO WEEKS!! I can't wait! Let the shopping begin!!

Anniversary Pics Cont'd

2009-06-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

We had an absolutely wonderful time on our little 2 day get away to the beach. Despite Travis's back not being 100%, we were able to take it easy and enjoy a REALLY relaxing time. Our room was wonderful, we had great food and good quality time. Thanks for all of the well wishes <3 onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k7PuANZH2jM/SjA7g2fXxiI/AAAAAAAAANo/UN72SZNVYFk/s1600-h/Summer09-Anniv+033.jpg">

Anniversary Pics!

2009-06-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful day and a lovely dinner tonight! Here are some pics!! I will post pictures of out trip when we return!

16 week pic!

2009-06-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

Maybe a little more growth?!?!

16 weeks!

2009-06-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

4 months! That's crazy!! Time is certainly flying by! I know I am a day early, but Travis and I will be out of town celebrating our anniversary for the next few days, so I thought I'd post now!
Here's what little H is up to!

At this point of your pregnancy, your baby is approximately 4.3 to 4.6 inches long and weighs 2.8 ounces. Not only is your baby growing, your uterus and placenta continue to grow to accommodate the growing baby inside of you! Just six weeks ago, your uterus weighed about 5 ounces. This week it now weighs 8.75 ounces! The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is increasing and there is about 7.5 ounces of fluid. You will easily be able to feel your uterus approximately three inches below your navel.

This is an important week for testing and you will most likely have an AFP test done. This is a harmless blood test that is done to detect abnormalities such as Down's syndrome or spina bifida. This is a non-invasive test and it carries no risk to your developing baby. Most doctors will offer the test, but in most cases it is completely optional.

Your milk glands start production at this time and this causes some tenderness and swelling in early pregnancy. Your veins will become more visible because there is an increased amount of blood flowing to the breasts.

Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

At this time, your baby is holding her head erect. Because her muscles are developing, she can make some faces now. Your baby is able to squint, frown and open its mouth. There is enough calcium in the bones that they will show up on an x-ray. Your baby's fingernails are well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because your baby is moving well now, you may begin to feel his movements! Some women say that the early movements feel like gas bubbles or a slight flutter. If you have not yet felt the baby move, don't worry. Fetal movements are usually felt between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy.

You may feel your heart beating 'louder'. This is because there is a lot more blood in your body than normal. (about 20-25% more).

I'll update later in the week with pictures from our trip and will updates from our 16 week appt! Have a wonderful week!

Happy Anniversary!!!

2009-06-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

It's SO hard to believe that a year ago today, Travis and I got married!! It truly was the MOST wonderful day of my life. I have SO many vivid memories of that day that I'll NEVER forget! It has been a whirlwind year and we've grown so much closer as a couple. I couldn't be happier! Thanks, Travis.. for the most magical year and for being the most awesome husband. I love you more than anything!!!! Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!!

updated belly pics

2009-06-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

Here are weeks 14 and 15. I am feeling bigger than ever and am up a few more lbs, but I know this is only the beginning!
As long as Baby H is healthy, we're happy! I'll be updating soon after my next dr. appt!

15 weeks!

2009-06-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

Wow... time is flying by! I am going to catch up on my belly pics in a few days. My belly hasn't done *much* changing... but I'm definitely starting to feel more pressure and a little discomfort. I can tell somethings changing in there ;)

Before I give the stats for 15 weeks...

I want to wish a VERY SUPER HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my best friend and the absolute love of my life!! Our "real" anniversary (wedding) isn't until Sunday and we have a nice weekend planned... but today marks our "dating" anniversary... something that is still very special to me. For those of you that don't know... I actually met Travis 10 years ago in February and that's when we actually first started 'dating' as young teens... but as fate would have it... we reunited our puppy love as adults and here we are! Travis- I love you more each day and am so glad you're the one I am sharing life's journey with. You take such good care of me and really bring true joy to my life. You truly are my better half. I am so blessed and so very thankful that God has truly blessed and surrounded me with the most wonderful people. XOXOXOXOXO
Bad quality.. I know... but that is "us" about 9 years ago!

Ok--- Let me dry my eyes ;) Here's what Baby H is up to this week!

Your baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 4 inches and she now weighs approximately 1.75 ounces. Your baby is close to the size of a softball and you can easily tell that you are pregnant now! If you wear maternity clothes or a swimming suit, other people will be able to tell that you are pregnant also. You can probably feel your uterus about three to four inches below your bellybutton. <--- ahh... so that's what i'm feeling ;)

If you do not yet have a due date, your doctor can easily determine an accurate due date based on the measurement of your baby's head. This is done by an ultrasound examination. Your doctor will be discussing upcoming tests and procedures with you around this time that are able to diagnose or confirm birth defects and other abnormalities. Your baby is growing at an amazing rate and looking more like a human every day.

Because your baby's skin is so thin, you are able to see blood vessels through the skin. Lanugo hair covers your baby's body, but it will be gone when your baby is born. The hair on the eyebrows and head continues to grow. Some babies are born with little or no hair and others have a head full of hair! If you have an ultrasound at this point, you might be able to see your baby sucking its thumb. Even though the eyes continue to move to the front of the face, they are still widely separated. Your baby's ears look like normal ears and continue to develop externally. The bones that have already formed continue to get harder and retain calcium. The baby is very mobile and flexible at this point. She can bend her arms at the elbows and wrists and she can also make a fist with her hands.

A week behind...

2009-05-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a 13 week belly pic and I will get a 14 week one soon! Happy Memorial Day!

Week 14.

2009-05-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

You are now in your second trimester! Your baby's crown to rump length is 3.2 to 4.5 inches long and he weighs approximately 1 ounce now. Your baby is about the size of the average fist.

Now that you are into your second trimester, you may be starting the best part of your pregnancy. You will probably start to feel more energetic and you may get the `pregnancy glow`. Your uterus is beginning to swell week by week and you can follow its progress by locating the top of the uterus. The position of the top of the uterus will continue to gradually move up your abdomen, from beneath the pubic line to above your navel. Maternity clothes are probably necessary now. You might also experience hemorrhoids, which are painful dilated blood vessels around or inside the anus.

At this time, your baby's face is becoming more developed. The cheeks and bridge of his nose appear and the ears move from the sides of his neck to much higher on his head. The eyes continue to come closer together. A big development from this week onward is the development of lanugo. Lanugo is the fine hair that grows over almost your entire baby. The hairs grow in whirled patterns that follow the grain of his skin. These patterns later give way to your baby's fingerprints. The lanugo will be shed before birth and replaced by thicker, coarser hairs. Your baby's thyroid gland has matured and starts to produce hormones. If your baby is a boy, the prostate will appear and the ovaries descend from the abdomen into the pelvis in baby girls.

If you are having the Chorionic Villus sampling test (to check for Down's syndrome) it's done round about now. The embryo`s soft cartilage is now being replaced with ` real` chalk bones. Your baby has eyebrows, but no eyelashes. Fine, light hair also begins to grow.

WOO HOOOOO second trimester!!!

2009-05-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

(sonogram of a 13 week old fetus)

Baby H, Week 13!!!

Your baby weighs 14 to 20 grams. The crown-to-rump length of your growing baby is 2.6 to 3.1 inches. Your baby is now about the size of a peach. Fetal growth is amazing from now through about the 24th week of pregnancy.

At this point of your pregnancy, there is a steady flow of pregnancy hormones in your bloodstream. Your body will adjust to the changes and morning sickness might stop and other early symptoms will begin to ease. Because the second trimester is approaching, feelings of anxiety or nervousness may also diminish. You have probably gained some weight by now. You are losing your waist and your clothing is probably fitting snugly.

There is a milky membrane that surrounds your baby. It is pierced by the umbilical cord and is made up of two layers, which are fused together. Your placenta provides most of the nutrients and oxygen that your baby needs. By this week, the placenta is well formed and ready to take over hormone manufacture from your ovaries. The placenta will produce progesterone and estriol. These hormones will be crucial in the maintenance of your pregnancy. Tissue that will form your baby's bones is being laid down, especially around the head and limbs. The nose and chin are becoming more prominent. Your baby's eyelids meet and fuse together and they will not open again for nearly four months. The eyes started out on the side of your baby's head and they are now moving closer together on the face. The ears come to lie in their normal position on the sides of the head. If examined outside of the womb, you will be able to distinguish male from female at this time. The sockets for all twenty teeth are formed in the gums, and vocal cords are beginning to form.

Back from the dr...

2009-05-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, Travis and I had our 12 week appt. We saw a different midwife this time... She was very nice but we really like our midwife! All of my first tri bloodwork came back normal andI had lost 2 pounds. She said this was fine and that I'd catch up later....and I have NO doubts I will. In fact, the weight gain is on eof the scariest parts of this pregnancy for me. My feelings were a little hurt by her next comment... but I tried not to take it personal She said, "We want you to stay between 20 and 35 pounds... but with a smaller frameyou might want to stick closer to the 20 lb range". She explained that it's harder on a smaller frame to carry the extra weight... etc. I've known very few pregnant friends to only gain 20 lbs (even if they're small) so hopefully I can stay in that range. hahaha... time will tell, but I have my doubts!

I was so very nervous that we wouldn't hear a heartbeat on the doppler and she warned me not to panic if it took some time, as they move so quickly at this time.... but as soon as she put the doppler on my belly, we heard the heartbeat It was wonderful and I got very teary eyed! It's so nice to know there's actually something in there!! I asked her about the NT scan that I hear so many people talking about and she said they do the dating ultrasound, 1st trimester bloodwork, another bloodscreen at 16 weeks for genetic abnormalities and the 4-d ultrasound at 20 weeks. I guess I'm not going to worry too much about it, but I just wonder why so many others are doing this but my dr. isn't ??

They also wouldn't budge on the gender ultrasound. We have to wait til the full 20 weeks, so it will be July 7. I am so impatient, but totally fine with waiting!! After our appt we went to Babies R Us and picked out LOTS of things!! I am so glad we were able to agree on so much. We didn't purchase anything just yet but plan to very soon. I can't WAIT to shop!! Thanks for reading... and here's a 12 week pic ;)

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-11T07:00:00.001-07:00

I want to wish a very happy (late) mother's day to all of the mother's in my life! My mom is my very best friend and I am so blessed and incredibly lucky have had her guiding me all these years! As I'm now becoming a new mother, I hope and pray I am able to become such an amazing mom and that my children and I may experience the close bond and extraordinary relationship that my mom and I have. I love you mom!!

I also want to wish a happy mothers day to my sister and sister in law, my aunts, grandmother, mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law and all of the other mom's and moms to be in my life =)
We had a wonderful mother's day weekend filled with lots of fun and memory-making!!

It's been said (and Dr. Spock's Pregnancy Guide will back me up!!) that the increased hormones during pregnancy may make your skin more sensitive to the sun and increase the chance for sunburn. This, unfortunately, proved to be the case for me this weekend! After only a few hours in the sun, I was incredibly sunburt like never before. I recovered the rest of the weekend and will definitely be stocking up on some heavy SPF ;)

On the baby front, I have still be throwing up some through the weekend, but the all-day nausea and overall ill-feeling seems to have subsided (THANK THE LORD!!) I have also noticed that I am slowly starting to get some energy back! Woohoo!! This week marks the last week in my first trimester and I will officially be in the second trimester on Monday. I am so thankful we've made it this far! We have our 12-week appt. with the midwife tomorrow and will be scheduling the date for our BIG ultrasound. We're very excited and I will update when we return!

My little bean.. 12 weeks!

2009-05-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

Your baby's crown-to-rump length is almost 2.5 inches and she now weighs between 8 and 14 grams! In just three weeks, your baby's size has more than doubled and begins to look a lot more human. Even though you won't be able to feel your baby moving at this time, you can stimulate him and he will squint, open his mouth and move his fingers or toes.

By the end of this week, your uterus is too large to remain completely in your pelvis. You might be able to feel your uterus above your pubic bone. The uterus will continue to grow throughout your pregnancy and will return to its usual size within a few weeks after delivery. Before pregnancy, the uterus is almost solid and holds less than 0.3 ounces. During pregnancy, your uterus will become a thin-walled, muscular container that will hold the fetus, amniotic fluid and placenta. Before pregnancy, the uterus weighs approximately 2.5 ounces and when your baby is born, it will weigh almost 40 ounces!

Because most of the structures are already formed at this point, few will be formed after this time. The structures will continue to grow and develop throughout the remainder of your pregnancy. Your baby's skeletal system now has centers if bone formation in most of the bones. The digestive system is capable of making contractions that push food through the bowels and it is also able to absorb sugar. The pituitary gland beginning to make hormones. You will probably be able to hear your baby's heartbeat with a Doppler at this time!

This week may be the first week that you begin to feel better! Morning sickness often tends to improve or diminish at this time. You may begin to show slightly, especially if this is not your first pregnancy. You will feel more comfortable in loose clothing, such as maternity clothes. In addition to your tummy getting larger your breasts, hips, legs and sides may be getting bigger also.

Your baby develops reflexes and the skin is very sensitive. The brain is fully formed, and the child can feel pain. the baby may even suck his thumb. The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the seventh month to protect the delicate optical nerve fibers.

www.pregnology.com

Belly Pics!!

2009-05-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

I know I have been slacking on these... but there really isn't much to see just yet...although I've gained a few pounds... I guess that could be the extra food I've been eating ;)! I missed weeks 9 and 10 because I wasn't feeling too hot! I will continue to update as the belly progresses =)

29 weeks to go!

2009-05-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Baby H, Week 11!

Your baby continues to grow and is now approximately the size of a large lime! The crown-to-rump length of your developing child is 1.75 to 2.4 inches. The weight of the fetus is approximately 8 grams at this point. The growth of your baby is phenomenal now and your baby's length will double in the next three weeks. The head is grossly out of proportion and is almost half of the baby's length.

You are almost at the end of your first trimester and while changes continue to occur quickly in your baby, they are happening at a slower rate in you. Your uterus has been growing with the fetus inside of it and is now almost big enough to fill your pelvis. Your uterus may be able to be felt in your lower abdomen, above the middle of your pubic bone. You are not able to feel the baby moving inside of you at this time. Some women think that they have felt their baby moving now, but it is either gas or a wrongly dated pregnancy. You might also be noticing changes in your hair, fingernails, or skin around this time. Some women notice an increase in hair growth and nail growth during pregnancy and others lose small amounts of hair. You are burning up calories at a faster rate than you did before you became pregnant! The amount of blood being pumped around your body will increase and you might feel warmer than usual.

This is the last week of the embryonic period. From now on, your baby will be called a fetus. Your baby's fingernails appear this week! External genitalia are beginning to show distinguishing features and the development of male or female will be complete in three weeks. The placenta's blood vessels increase to provide your baby with the nutrients and oxygen he needs for continued growth. Your baby's ears are gradually moving from the neck towards the sides of his head. Inside of your baby's abdomen, the intestines are developing. Because the intestines are so large, some of them project into the umbilical cord and they will return to the abdomen within the next week or two.

2009-04-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

210 days to go... but who's counting?!

2009-04-27T06:16:00.000-07:00

10 week fetus...
What the little one is up to this week (10 weeks!)

At this point of your pregnancy, the crown-to-rump length of your developing baby is 1.25 to 1.68 inches. It is now easier to tell how much the baby weighs since he is beginning to put on some weight. Your baby weighs approximately 5 grams and is the size of a small plum! The baby has grown an incredible amount during these past few weeks, but you still aren't showing too much yet.

This week is somewhat of a landmark for your developing baby. By now, your baby's complete body plan is laid down. Your baby will continue to develop and grow for the remainder of the pregnancy. The fingers and toes have separated and the tail has disappeared now. Your baby has taste and tooth buds at this point, which will continue to develop. The brain will continue to grow at an amazing rate and nearly a quarter of a million new neurons are produced every minute! The embryonic heart is completely developed. External genitalia are not apparent until next week, but a male's testes will already be producing testosterone. Because you have high hormone levels at this time, you may notice an abundance of emotional and physical effects. Most pregnant women find themselves getting distressed easily and have frequent mood swings. Common physical changes include the beginning of real weight gain, potential softening of the gums and slightly swollen thyroid glands. Common emotional changes include feelings of unattractiveness, feelings of inadequacy and concerns about what the future holds. Some women are not excited about their pregnancy at first and question the condition. It is not uncommon to get upset easily, cry at the slightest things, feel moody or drift on daydreams. You may have gained a little weight already. Average weight gain during pregnancy is about 28lbs(13kgs), but most of that is gained in the second and third trimester.

How I've been feeling....

2009-04-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay... I admit I am being a bit of a pessimist, but every since about hmmm... week 6, I have been feeling horrible. I want to know who termed this "morning sickness". It is, in fact, ALL DAY sickness! The doctor called me in something. but that only served to make the sickness WORSE! I am trying to be a trooper for the next few weeks and praying that this passes soon! I know the end result is SO worth it! I'm not loosing any weight and I am still able to force feed myself. I'll let you know when it gets better!!

What's little H up to this week?

2009-04-20T08:17:00.001-07:00

9 weeks!

Your baby now is about the size of a medium green olive. The crow-to-rump length is 22 to 30 mm and the baby weighs 0.12 ounces. Although your body shape will not yet reveal that you are pregnant, your doctor would be able to notice an enlarged uterus. The hCG hormone is at its peak and you might notice more changes. Your skin may become smoother and a bit plumper, but you might also get an outbreak of pimples. Your hair may become less oily, or more. You might also notice some vaginal discharge, which is usually not a cause for concern.

Although the baby is still very small, it is beginning to look more like a human being. Your baby's back is straightening out and the tail is shrinking. In proportion to the rest of his body, the head is large and remains curved forwards onto the chest. The head is erect and the neck is developing well. Even though your baby's eyes are well developed, they are covered by a membrane lid. The eyes will not begin to open and close for quite some time still. Your baby will begin to make tiny movements as the muscles start to develop. You will not be able to feel any of these early movements, but you might be able to see them during an ultrasound. The arms and hands are progressing faster than the legs and feet at this point. By this time of your baby's development, the hands have defined finger ridges and the tissue between them will die off to leave separate fingers. It is impossible to distinguish a male from a female at this time because external genitalia look very similar at this point.

Your blood system will change during pregnancy and blood volume will increase by 50%. The increase in blood is important to meet the demands of your growing uterus. Blood volumes will begin to increase during the first trimester and will continue to rise throughout the entire pregnancy. The increase in plasma can cause anemia, which will cause you to feel tired or weak.

And bean probably looks something like this! :

Meet Baby H!

2009-04-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

Here's our baby bean's first picture :) Enjoy!

XoXoXoXoXoXoXo

Appt with the midwife

2009-04-16T12:21:00.001-07:00

After much research and great dissapointment that my regular GYN didn't deliver babies, I decided on going to Specialist for Women. They practice out of Obici and I am certain I made the right decision. We had our first appt with the mid wife on Tuesday March 31st. During this appt she asked us lots of questions, did lots of blood work and sent us home with lots of goodies. Our first ultrasound was scheduled for Tuesday April 14th!

At this appt, Travis and I were able to see and hear our little bean for the first time! It was absolutely wonderful! We were sent home with lots of pictures and a DVD. The babies due date was set for November 23rd, just 3 days before Thanksgiving our little turkey should be here! I will post pictures of the ultrasound as soon as I figure out how ;)

Great Grandma Poole

2009-04-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I only have one living grandparent left and she lives out of town. Although, I know my Paw Paw Pendleton is beaming in heaven at the news of a new great-grandchild! Travis's grandma, however, is very close to us and we couldn't wait to share the news with her!

My MIL and I had a ball at Motherhood Maternity Store on a recent visit to Roanoke, so we decided to frame this picture and the one of Travis with the bib to reveal the news to the new great grandma.

"Whatever" is her theme word and she got a kick out of this bib!

She was a little confused at the pictures, but eventually caught on!!!

Telling the grandparents!

2009-04-16T11:57:00.001-07:00

We wanted to keep our "secret" a surprise for a little while. It was really hard not to tell my mom, but I will say I am so glad we waited! Not only did we get to surprise them in a really special way... As first time parents, Travis and I really enjoyed having those few weeks to just embrace the moment together!

My dad!

My mom discovering her Easter delivery on the front porch!

Their Easter baskets and our baby stash!

The poem inside their Easter cards!

Telling Travis's mom was fun. We snuck into her house and waited for her to get home!

VERY shocked!

But very excited!

We spilled the beans!

2009-04-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

It's true! We're expecting! We've finally spilled the beans to just about everyone! I decided to start this blog for eveveryone who's interested in following our journey. I do not plan to hold back, so brace yourself! I also thought it'd be a nice way to document and later look back on my very first pregnancy. So- before I get started with the pregnancy updates, I thought it might be nice to let you know how we got to this point!

Travis and I got married on June 7, 2008. Had you asked me then when I'd be having a baby, I would have probably said 5 years!! Travis got the baby itch quite a bit sooner than I did, but eventually he rubbed off on me! By October/November, we decided that we were in a good place and wanted to at least start trying. We kept it to ourselves and just wanted to enjoy the time together. Being the control freak that I am, I immediately started charting. I tracked my cycles, temped with a basal body thermometer and tracked my ovulation. I learned way more about trying to conceive than I ever thought humanly possible!

Needless to say, it worked! On our 5th cycle, I tested with a HPT and it came back negative. I was a little bummed, so Travis and I went out to celebrate a friends birthday. The next morning, I had the urge to pee on a stick again ((lol)) Travis was still half asleep but tried convincing me not to, as HPT aren't cheap!! Well, as soon as he drifted back off to sleep, I snuck in our spare bathroom and test. Much to my surprise, it was POSITIVE!! I waited for what felt like days for him to wake up so I could tell him. I had already plotted my grand reveal for months! I bought him an "I love my Daddy" bib and placed the HPT on the table with the remote on top. I then asked him to pass me the remote. He was SUPER excited and in shock!!!!! This was just the beginning of our journey!